I don't mean to open a can of worms but would amillenialists also be those who would believe that the time frame in Genesis is symbolic? Or do many see Revelation as more symbolic than Genesis? Honest question. I'm not taking any sides or asking a loaded question here.

I don't mean to open a can of worms but would amillenialists also be those who would believe that the time frame in Genesis is symbolic? Or do many see Revelation as more symbolic than Genesis? Honest question. I'm not taking any sides or asking a loaded question here.

Thanks for the illustration.Jeff

funny that i've never really thought about that... especially because I do tend to think that the 7 days of creation were probably a literal 7 days (although I'm not at all hard and fast on that, i just have always tended towards that) but then do believe in a symbolic, but not literal millenium...

no can of worms... i need to start thinking these through... that or take my systematic theology classes in seminary so i can figure out what the stink i think.

_________________"sometimes a little more than you think you want is still a little less than you actually need""brilliance seems too often masked by stupid people"

The thing with me is that I believe in a literal translation of the Bible, it makes the most sense. No offense but John emphatically said in Rev 20:44 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

States that those who were marytered in the tribulation will rule with Jesus in the millennial kingdom. There's other verses that state that as well. We'd need a whole comprehensive Bible study to make a decent job at it.

Also on a different tack, I believe God is the only one who can usher in a true millennial kingdom were peace will reign for a thousand years. Amillennialism gained a lot of traction in the beginning portion of the 20th century, up until world war 1, then WWII, other conflicts in the past century have shown that man is not getting better but worse.

Like you said its a can a worms and I don't want to get into the nitty gritty but as a believer I feel that we need to take the Bible literally when its speaking plainly and when there's symbolism, typically that symbolism points back to a literal meaning so in both cases you can see what the Bible states.

I like to take things literally whenever possible. I haven't yet looked into all the eschatology stuff. I wonder if amillenialism wouldn't be for me.

Although I won't be reading a commentary on Revelation for a while, I wonder what you think of this:More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelationwhich I have on my list. I want an introductory type commentary. It's supposed to be from an ammillinialist point of view.

I would also suggest the following books:http://www.amazon.com/Pauline-Eschatology-Geerhardus-Vos/dp/0875525059/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218050341&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Future-Anthony-Hoekema/dp/0802808514/ref=pd_sim_b_15http://www.amazon.com/Case-Amillennialism-Understanding-End-Times/dp/080106435X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_bhttp://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Lamb-Commentary-Dennis-Johnson/dp/0875522009/ref=pd_sim_b_4http://www.amazon.com/Returning-King-Guide-Book-Revelation/dp/0875524621/ref=pd_sim_b_7

Maflyn: It's postmillenialism that believes things will get better & better & better, so that's the view that has diminished since the world wars.

I don't think the amillenial position is an attempt to distance itself from taking the Bible 'literally' - it's an attempt to take the Bible 'naturally' - in other words, to do justice to the book of Revelation's genres & literary devices.

So, for example, when Revelation speaks of the trinity as god the father, Jesus the lamb, and the "seven spirits" before the throne of God, we don't think there are actually seven spirits - we take this as a reference to the ONE perfect, eternal Holy Spirit, represented by the number 7.

Similarly, the number 1,000 is taken as representative rather than exact.

In the end though, I'm a panmillenialist: I think it'll all pan out in the end ;-)